The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said it will review athlete safety protocols following the deaths of two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday, June 8.

In a statement, the PSC expressed its grief by the deaths of Divine Adili, 21, and Rene Clert Baterbonia, 19, who were part of the sports program of the Ateneo de Manila University. Their passing, it said, is a “profound tragedy” for Philippine sports.

In response to the incident, the PSC announced the convening of a sports stakeholders’ panel that will examine existing policies, protocols, and training practices in athletic environments, with the aim of strengthening safeguards for student-athletes.

The commission said it is fully cooperating with ongoing investigations led by the Philippine National Police, in coordination with the Department of Justice Philippines, to establish a clear and accurate account of what happened.

The stakeholders’ panel will include the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education, and the National Youth Commission Philippines.

Beyond fact-finding, the PSC said the review will focus on improving safety standards in sports training and team-building activities to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The goal is not only to understand what happened, but to ensure that lessons learned lead to safer, more responsive systems that protect athletes while sustaining high-performance sport,” the PSC said.

The commission also expressed solidarity with the families and loved ones of the two student-athletes as investigations continue.